Types of Low Lying Perennials for Ground Cover

by Mary Simpson

Low-growing perennials frame a stone path.

Choosing perennials for a ground cover livens up empty expanses in front of shrubs, under trees, between pavers and even where a lawn would traditionally be. Erosion control is an added benefit. Sprinkled with flowers, these areas cannot become boring. When the same perennial is used with a variety of other plants, it has a unifying effect on the landscape. Select a perennial with a height from a few inches to knee-high, a long blooming season and disease resistance.

Clumping Varieties

Perennials suitable for ground covers fall into two categories: those that clump and those that spread. Because the plants with a spreading habit can sometimes become invasive, clumping types are recommended. Just be sure that you space the clumps close enough together to achieve complete coverage. Big blue lily turf (Liriope muscari) does well at the base of shrubs or trees, even tolerating full shade. Lady's mantle (Alchemilla mollis) produces a froth of yellow flowers in summer. A repeat-bloomer, the pink (Dianthus "Bath's Pink") is a hybrid that tolerates heat and humidity better than its forerunners and even boasts a pleasant fragrance. All of these perennials are recommended for U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 5b to 10.

Herbs

Flowering herbs are popular perennial ground covers, and some can also be snipped for culinary purposes. As a bonus, some of them emit a spicy scent. A type of thyme called mother-of-thyme (Thymus serpyllum) can withstand foot traffic and be grown as a lawn. Woolly thyme (T. pseudolanuginosus) forms a soft, gray ground cover, particularly between paving stones. Framing flowering shrubs, like hydrangeas, with a grayish ground cover, catmint (Nepeta) is capable of blooming from late spring to the fall. Both thymes and the catmint grow well in zones 5b to 10. The prostrate form of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis "Huntington Carpet") sports pale blue flowers and grows quickly; it is suited for zones 7 to 10.

Ground Cover Roses

Even roses can serve as ground covers. Hardy, disease-resistant and prolific bloomers from late spring until frost, two main groups have been cultivated to grow at ground level. The Flower Carpet series comes in shades of red, pink, coral, yellow and white. Several trademarked Meidiland roses in red and white also fit this bill. Others with interesting names like "Electric Blanket" (coral) and "Happy Chappy" (yellow) also remain low enough to be ground covers. All of these roses are approved for zones 5 to 10.

Succulents

Only reaching 2 inches high and recommended for zones 5 to 10, a certain sedum (Sedum spurium "John Creech") is perfect for sunny, dry areas. Bright pink flowers emerge above its scalloped leaves any time from late spring to early fall. The ice plant (Carpobrotus chilensis), another succulent perennial that makes a colorful ground cover, features rosy purple blooms with a slight fragrance in zones 9 and 10 exclusively.

About the Author

Mary Simpson began her writing career in 1968 on a Dallas oil magazine. Besides reporting and editing for several small Texas newspapers, Simpson has written for "Petroleum Engineer Magazine," "Denton Today Magazine" and put out an employee newsletter for a FEMA facility. She holds a B.A. in journalism and an M.A.in English, both from the University of North Texas.

Photo Credits

Have Feedback?

Thank you for providing feedback to our Editorial staff on this article. Please fill in the following information so we can alert the Home Guides editorial team about a factual or typographical error in this story. All Fields are required.